(Sur)realism • Calum Hood

n i n e

We had stayed there and talked for a few hours at least. I calmed myself down, and he showed me a few more songs, all of which I adored.

The one that stood out the most, was one that I already knew. Landslide by Fleetwood Mac. I started singing along.

"Reminds me of you," he said simply.

"What?" I asked, stopping my slightly-off key singing.

"This song, I mean." He shrugged, "you seem like you're scared of change."

"I am."

I added that to my mental list of my favorite traits of Calum Hood. Nearly every time he talked he always had another song that reminded him of me. It was such a comforting thought to think he sets out listening to music with me in mind.

"Can I show you something?" I asked him out of nowhere.

"Sure," he agreed.

"I lied." I said nonchalantly, getting up from my seat.

"Um, about what?" His voiced sounded panicked as he followed me.

"Nothing major. The paintings on the wall are mine." I took a heavy breath and walked back to the small room behind my kitchen. It was meant to be a laundry room, I used it as my art studio.

"They're fucking incredible." Calum stopped in front of a self portrait I painted. "What kind of paintings do you do?" He asked.

"Realism, mostly." I dug through the supplies in my studio as he stood there and marveled at one of my worst works.

Calum touched his fingertips to the edge of the painting.

"That looks pretty surreal to me."

"Um, thank you, but I paint things as I see them, it's not really anything special."

"Whatever, it's beautiful."

I rolled my eyes and pulled out the painting I had been searching for.

"Calum, I have something for you."

He diverted his attention to me and came a little closer.

I turned the painting around for him to see it.

"Oh my god, this is incredible..." he trailed off, grabbing the canvas for a better look.

It was a portrait of him painted entirely with shades of black - I didn't think it was top-notch, but his reaction made me smile.

"I love it, I love you." He set the painting down at the realization of his words. "Shit, I'm sorry." Calum spoke frantically.

I took a deep breath and let my mind process the words I was about to speak. "Don't be, the feeling is mutual."

He ran his hand through his hair the same way he did when we first met. "You can't be serious," he shook his head.

"I am, Calum. And I-I'm sure of it."

We stood there, looking at each other for what felt like hours. And then he wrapped his arms around me. We hugged for such a long time I couldn't compare it to anything. We hugged, and that's it.

And somehow that felt more intimate than anything.